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Leadership Team and Newly-Appointed Board President, Frank M. Clark, Will Continue the Progress CPS Has Made in the Classroom While Addressing Financial Challenges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, July 22, 2015

For more information, contact:
CPS Office of Communications
Phone: 773-553-1620

The Chicago Board of Education today approved the appointment of a new leadership team at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), including Forrest Claypool as the District’s next Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Janice K. Jackson as Chief Education Officer and Denise Little as a special senior advisor to the CEO. Frank M. Clark was recently appointed as Board president, and joins the District’s new leadership.

“From historic gains in graduation rates and record-high ACT scores to a record number of students bound for college, our students, teachers and principals have made great progress. For the sake of our children and our city, that progress must continue,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “This new leadership team will build on our gains, address our challenges, and make sure that we continue putting our children and their education first.”

Frank M. Clark was also recently appointed as Board president, and joins the District’s new leadership.

The Board also approved four other high-ranking positions. Paul Osland will assume the role as Chief Facilities Officer, Michael Moss as Budget Director, Minerva Garcia-Sanchez as Chief of Schools for Network 7 and Donell Underdue as Chief of Schools for Network 10.

Claypool replaces Jesse Ruiz, who had been serving as Interim CEO and will now return to his previous role as Vice President of the Board of Education.

Before serving as Mayor Emanuel’s chief of staff, Claypool was president of the Chicago Transit Authority, notably overseeing the Red Line South Reconstruction Project, which was completed on time and on budget. He also served as superintendent of the Chicago Park District during the 1990s where he reduced costs and spending, while also expanding programs for families. Claypool will assume CEO duties onJuly 27.

Jackson has more than 15 years of experience in Chicago Public Schools, most recently as Chief of Schools for Network 9. Under Jackson’s leadership as principal at Al Raby High School and Westinghouse College Prep, both high schools were recognized for academic excellence. Prior to those roles, she taught history and economics at South Shore High School.

Little is CPS’ Chief Officer of Networks, a position responsible for managing the Chiefs of Schools and ensuring that all network chiefs have the available tools and programs they need to produce high-performing schools and ensure that CPS students are reaching their full potential. Little previously served as the Chief of Elementary Schools for the Garfield-Humboldt Network, and before that, as principal of Helen M. Hefferan Elementary School, a level 1+ school, for 13 years.

The Board also announced Frank M. Clark as its new President today. Clark, a CPS graduate, replaces President David J. Vitale, who is stepping down after serving in this role since May of 2011. Clark is currently the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Chicago Community Trust. He worked at ComEd for more than 40 years, retiring in 2012 as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ComEd. Clark is the co-founder of the Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy, a high school located on the west side of the city, and is the Co-Chair of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Board. He also served on the Commission on School Utilization in 2012.

Chicago Public Schools serves 396,000 students in 664 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.

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Chicago Public Schools is the third largest school district in the United States with more than 600 schools and serves 371,000 children. Our vision is that every student in every neighborhood will be engaged in a rigorous, well-rounded instructional program and will graduate prepared for success in college, career and life.